Quotes of the day; Update: Walker victory speech added

posted at 11:22 pm on June 5, 2012 by Allahpundit

The year-long saga of the Wisconsin recall is, at long last, over, and Scott Walker is still standing. The low-key Republican governor has withstood a sustained (and expensive) onslaught from the forces of Big Labor and its allies on the Left that featured everything from the coordinated cross-border retreat of intransigent Democratic lawmakers, to the occupation of the state house by a band of radicals, bongo drummers, and high school truants, to ill-fated attempts to nullify Republican legislative majorities and pick off uncooperative judges. Walker’s enemies did everything but release the kraken…

Scott Walker saved his job by being the adult in the room. While Democrats in Washington seem to be relying on their belief that the United States government is “too big to fail” to justify a program of taxing and spending our way out of debt, the states don’t have such a luxury. And so, across the country, in states red, blue, and purple, they have turned to men like Scott Walker — and Chris Christie, and Mitch Daniels, and others — to close structural deficits, stabilize out-of-control spending, and break the death embrace between Big Labor and Big Government. In taking this toxic partnership head on, in a state with a rich progressive history no less, Walker became its biggest target. His enemies spent a year and a half preparing to take their best shot at him. And a combined total of $100 million or so later, they missed. They missed because voters are starting to understand that governing through crisis requires someone willing to make unpopular choices, stand up to entrenched interests, and hold the line against loud and determined opposition.

“I congratulate Scott Walker on his victory in Wisconsin. Governor Walker has demonstrated over the past year what sound fiscal policies can do to turn an economy around, and I believe that in November voters across the country will demonstrate that they want the same in Washington, D.C. Tonight’s results will echo beyond the borders of Wisconsin. Governor Walker has shown that citizens and taxpayers can fight back – and prevail – against the runaway government costs imposed by labor bosses. Tonight voters said ‘no’ to the tired, liberal ideas of yesterday, and ‘yes’ to fiscal responsibility and a new direction. I look forward to working with Governor Walker to help build a better, brighter future for all Americans.”

***

Of course, Walker’s victory is about more than public sector unions. What Walker has demonstrated is that voters will ultimately reward politicians for showing political courage on the big issues if they have the resolve to see their policies implemented and watch them succeed. Enthusiasm for Walker among his supporters was off the charts because people are more willing to fight for a leader who has actually taken a stand. As the United States faces a looming fiscal crisis due to prior generations unwillingness to tackle runaway spending on the entitlement programs of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, wobbly-kneed politicians in Washington should look to Walker’s triumph in Wisconsin for inspiration.

***

Confrontations between the people and organized labor aren’t new, but they have a way of translating to the national conversation. A single sentence arguably made Calvin Coolidge president: “There is no right to strike against the public safety by anybody, anywhere, any time.” It hit a nerve then, as it has now. I have seen conservative crowds give applause for presidents and political figures all over the country, but I have never seen them applaud as they do for Walker. That applause will only get louder now…

Walker’s reforms are nowhere near as severe as they’re made out to be, and they are less exportable than some might like. But branding this as the most important election of the year is not entirely wrong. Walker’s confrontation writ large is not with public sector unions, but with the dying Blue social model. It is one of the longest-lived coalitions in American politics, but one the White House is already letting slip – the marriage decision was a clear sign of that. Tonight’s Walker victory may prove to be its death knell.

***

The recalls began with anger over Walker’s stance on collective bargaining, but Democrats quickly changed the subject when it became clear that collective bargaining wasn’t a winning issue with voters, who had begun to see the positive results of reform.

But the public is smart — people understood that the Democrats’ constantly shifting issues were essentially a poker tell. The unions were trying to fill an inside straight, it was clear, while Walker pulled a new ace with every school district that praised his reforms. The fact that Dems attempted last-minute personal smears, they showed everyone exactly how far behind they thought they were. And on that count, they were right.

Following his victory over Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, Governor Walker thanked the voters for their support and focused on the future.

“Bringing our state together will take some time, but I hope to start right away,” Governor Walker said. “It is time to put our differences aside and figure out ways that we can move Wisconsin forward.”

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Comments

Morning guys. I switched to FoxNews. Can’t watch when Mika is in charge.
I watched a little CNBC and there was a fun segment when the hosts made The New York Times John Harwood (Obama butt kisser) grovel and say he was wrong. Apparently he had promised a big Barrett come from behind.

i guess what I don’t understand is that dear leader does not have to work with collective bargaining rights for the federal gov’t so why all the outrage that WI took away public collective rights at the state level

In Texas-by-way-of-SouthSide-Chicago(hey-yay!!), you’d be more likely to hear: I was speechless when reading about your physical maladies last night. You know, people don’t often know what to say when folks they like reveal that there’s something wrong. I’m sorry, bazil9. Be well.

It has been emblazoned on mainstream media that the exit poll also showed Barack Obama leading Mitt Romney in the state 51%-45%. But if you think the exit poll was 4% too Democratic—and that’s in line with exit poll discrepancies with actual vote results over the last decade, as documented by the exit poll pioneer, the late Warren Mitofsky*—that result looks more like 49%-47% Romney. Or assume the remaining Milwaukee County precincts whittle Republican Governor Scott Walker’s margin over Democratic Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett to 53%-47%, which looks likely, the Obama-Romney numbers would look like 48%-48%.

Awesome to that the skanks, pansies and other liberals in the lefty media are sucking it this morning. I love video of that whinylittle b!tch crying about the end of America. Suck it, lefty. You wouldn’t know America if we slapped you.

Thanky. Having Oprah’s spirit gives me an empathetic, life-embracing outlook. Having Kim K’s body is just happy genetic accident. Speechlessness (or whistling past the graveyard) is a way I, and many people, find to cope with folks whose myriad warm-blooded human sufferings come out on a blog where cold politics is the norm.

I know, we are all humans here behind the handles..you never know what people are personally dealing with. I try and keep that in mind when some seem to be having an “off day”.
We prob have more in common then different.
You just get to know people here over time. Blog dynamics, I guess.
The late night crew anyway.
Some I have known here for a few years. Off sets the cold-cut throat in fighting.

Happy Wednesday to you!- I gotta hit the road!
Join us in the cheese hat section. :)

Awesome to that the skanks, pansies and other liberals in the lefty media are sucking it this morning. I love video of that whinylittle b!tch crying about the end of America. Suck it, lefty. You wouldn’t know America if we slapped you.

Jaibones on June 6, 2012 at 8:38 AM

I just heard that on the radio. It was great. But how sad to have a world view that is so twisted.

It used to bother me quite a bit. Now its just laughable. They have become their own greatest enemy. They will provide they’re own undoing. So I say let em keep talking, of course we can still keep providing them the rope. ; )

You know, people don’t often know what to say when folks they like reveal that there’s something wrong. I’m sorry, bazil9. Be well.

:)

Ladysmith CulchaVulcha on June 6, 2012 at 8:04 AM

I know, we are all humans here behind the handles..you never know what people are personally dealing with. I try and keep that in mind when some seem to be having an “off day”.
We prob have more in common then different.
You just get to know people here over time. Blog dynamics, I guess.
The late night crew anyway.
Some I have known here for a few years. Off sets the cold-cut throat in fighting.

Happy Wednesday to you!- I gotta hit the road!
Join us in the cheese hat section. :)

bazil9 on June 6, 2012 at 9:00 AM

Didn’t catch what your issue was.. Hope only the best for you. The wise words.. to make allowances for your friends since you never know what ailes them, or what they have to deal with..

I know this far better than I wish… You deal and live your life, not much else you can do. You also understand when your friends have an off day.

Best to all here who have medical or family issues… We’re all God’s children, even the most flawed like me.. Do well Bazil.. all the best to you and yours.

If some group of conservatives did the same.. MSNBC would lead the evening news with it for a week. The president would personally condenm it and the left would go collectively nutz.. even more than usual.

as it is..

The MSM will ignore it.. even if criminal charges are filed. There were actual death threats by guys saying they would do it personally and target his wife and kids too. Not just the sordid “I hope he dies” types.. These were explicit threats, of the “I will” kind.

If they reside in Wisconsin, and make that kind of threat against their own governor.. there must be some kind of law broken.